The Line Hotel. Los Angeles. California. 12.25.2017-12.27.2017.

El Eh, you sure are smoggy. My room faced the Hollywood Hills, but it was so smoggy that evening that you can barely see Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign. If you do stay at The Line Hotel, make sure you get breakfast at the Commissary and get drinks at Break Room 86.

The Line Hotel
3515 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.381.7411

One of my favorite parts of staying at The Line Hotel is starting my day at The Commissary.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 27, 2017 at 10:29am PST

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors. The Broad. Los Angeles. California. 12.26.2017.

I popped down to LA on Christmas so I can line up to see Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrors at The Broad before it closes. I have seen the Infinity Mirror room at The Broad and I have seen 2 of her Infinity Mirror installations at The Mattress Factory as well. A lot of people complained that there is not a lot to this show. I can tell you is that these pieces are not meant to be experienced in 30 seconds, which is what you get at The Broad. I only know this from having had no time limit to experience these at The Mattress Factory. Much like James Turrell, you need time to immerse yourself into the pieces. I am glad I saw it regardless, but I would highly recommend you seeing these without a time limit if you ever have the opportunity to do so, as it's quite something. Furthermore, her work precedes the selfie generation. My friends and I loved the paintings the most. However, I am very partial still to the Infinity Mirror rooms. 

The Broad
221 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
213.232.6200

Photo of me below by Uli Luetzenkirchen.

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 26, 2017 at 10:25am PST

The Obliteration Room.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 26, 2017 at 4:25pm PST

Nightbird. San Francisco. California. 12.23.2017.

For my older brother Ted's birthday, my brother Phil and I decided to take him to Nightbird for dinner. Ted and I have never been, and it's too long of a meal for us to do before the opera. They did A Christmas Story themed tasting menu, which I found very inventive. However, for this price point ($220/head and we each only had a ginger beer and Ted had a coffee), the service was very subpar at best. There are so many amazing meals you can get in San Francisco that we both found this to be unacceptable. Which is a real shame because the food was actually quite good.

Nightbird
330 Gough St
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.829.7565

Auh Meatloaf?!?!
Mashed Potatoes "show me how the piggies eat"
Crab Rangoon
Truffle addition (shared)
Chinese Turkey
Persimmon Pudding
Oh Fudge
Drink Your Ovaltine!

Hinodeya Ramen Bar. San Francisco. California. 12.14.2017.

I was running errands in Japantown and I noticed that there was no line at Hinodeya for lunch. So I decided to have lunch there to check it out since there is always a huge line there for dinner. I got the Hinodeya Ramen and that was a very umami packed broth that was very clear. I would still say Mensho may still be my favorite ramen in town, but seriously, who has time for that line?

Hinodeya Ramen Bar
1737 Buchanan St
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.757.0552

Yung Kee Restaurant. Central. Hong Kong. 12.8.2017

For our last supper in Hong Kong, we opted for a classic Hong Kong dinner: roast goose. Yung Kee is famous for their roast goose and other Chinese cured meats. Please be sure to have some roast goose when you are in Hong Kong as you cannot get it elsewhere.

鏞記酒家
Yung Kee Restaurant
威靈頓街32-40號
Central
Hong Kong
852.2522.1624

Tai Cheong Bakery. Central. Hong Kong. 12.8.2017

Tai Cheong Bakery is famous for their egg tarts and Chinese donuts; they've been around since 1954. The egg tarts were so amazing that I had to return after dinner to get another. I have been craving these egg tarts ever since as you cannot get this quality here in San Francisco, although a place in Oakland may come close. This is a must for Hong Kong.

泰昌餅家
Tai Cheong Bakery
35 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central
Hong Kong

Mak's Noodle. Central. Hong Kong. 12.8.2017

We decided to stay in Central on Friday and explored the non financial parts of it. It's also because I had many musts for food in this area. Mak's Noodle is a very simple noodle house. You can get amazing won ton noodle soups here. It's super fast, no frills, and you stack tables with others unless your group is large. Enjoy!

麥奀雲吞麵世家
Mak's Noodle
77 Wellington St
Central
Hong Kong
852.2854.3810

Lan Fong Yuen. Central. Hong Kong. 12.8.2017

Lan Fong Yuen is famous for its Hong Kong milk tea. Everyone that knows me well knows I am addicted to milk tea, especially real milk tea, which is not made with dairy like most that you get in San Francisco. If you love milk tea as much as I do, this is a must.


蘭芳園
Lan Fong Yuen
2 Gage St
Central
Hong Kong
852.2544.3895

Photo of me below by Noe Chavez.

Café 103 at The Ritz-Carlton. Tsim Sha Tsui. Kowloon. Hong Kong. 12.7.2017

As the name suggests, Cafe 103 is on the 103rd floor of the Ritz Carlton. I wanted to do high tea here at sunset for the view. The savory to sweet selection was extremely unbalanced, perhaps it was because it was the Christmas Ecuador Chocolate Afternoon Tea menu offered...

Café 103 at The Ritz-Carlton
1號環球 貿易 廣場 (ICC) 香港 麗 思 卡爾 頓 酒店 103 樓 Elements
Austin Rd W 
Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong
852.2263.2270

Classic Liptauer cheese with pumpernickel
Smoked salmon rose with horseradish cream in cheese puff
Crab rillettes and lemon cranberry cream squid ink burger
Truffle cream chicken rosette vol-au-vent

Mozart cake
Walnut cake
Coconut Azteca (coconut chocolate)
Guanabana (peanut paste, chocolate mousse, guanoabana jelly)
Panama Hat(passion fruit, banana, chocolate, almond tart)
Red rose (raspberry mousse chocolate crunch)
Cheesecake verrine
Scones with clotted cream and homemade jam

Choi Hung Estate. Wong Tai Sin. Kowloon. Hong Kong. 12.7.2017

Choi Hung Estate is one of the biggest public housing estates in Hong Kong. It houses 43,000+ people! I think Wes Anderson would approve.

Photo of me below by Noe Chavez.

Basketball diaries.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 7, 2017 at 4:15pm PST

teakha. Tai Ping Shan. Hong Kong. 12.6.2017

teakha is the most adorable cafe I went to in Hong Kong. They have an amazing selection of artisanal milk tea and their baked goods were incredible. It's also in a tiny alley near my apartment. This is a must. Although very small, they have ample seating outside and in their additional spaces next door.

teakha 茶 ° 家

18 Tai Ping Shan St

Tai Ping Shan

Hong Kong

852.2858.9185

Best and most adorable tea cafe award goes to Teakha. I am having the merry matcha chiffon cake with a Keemun rose milk tea. It’s also just a 6 minute walk from where I am staying in a hidden alley.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 6, 2017 at 6:53pm PST

Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour. Central. Hong Kong. 12.5.2017

Like all things in Hong Kong, this speakeasy is inside a mall. You have to look pretty carefully to be able to find this speakeasy. You will be awarded with the biggest selection of gin in a very cozy setting.

Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour
Shop B31A First Basement Floor
Landmark Atrium
15 Queen’s Road
Central
Hong Kong
852.2111.9449

Dukling Cruise. Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong. 12.5.2017

I had never been on a Dukling (vintage fishing boats) cruise before, so I booked us one at sunset! It's a great way to see Hong Kong from a different vantage point.

Duk Ling cruise at sunset.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Dec 6, 2017 at 7:17am PST

Lung King Heen. Central. Hong Kong.

Lung King Heen is the first Cantonese restaurant to receive 3 Michelin stars and to retain them. Since I am going back to my roots, I wanted to check this out. They were gracious enough to fit me in for lunch, so I had the yum cha gourmet menu and added their signature barbecued suckling pig. My tasting menu also came with a tea pairing. This was an excellent meal and many were stand outs.

龍景軒
Lung King Heen
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
8 Finance St
Central
Hong Kong

Steamed Dim Sum Selection
Iced Supreme Oolong Tea Fujian

Baked Barbecued Pork Bun with Pine Nuts, Baked Whole Abalone Puff with Diced Chicken
Supreme Black Tea Yunnan

Steamed Star Groupa Fillet with Ginger and Spring Onions in Bamboo Basket
Long Jing Shifeng

Wok-Fried Superior Australian Wagyu Beef Cubes with Morel Mushrooms
Home Preserved Pure Yunnan 1999

Simmered Noodles with Shredded Chicken in Soup

Chilled Mango and Sago Cream with Pomelo

Petit Fours